Michigan GOP official sues newspaper for libel

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By Sammy Kanter

A newspaper in Michigan, the Michigan Messenger, is being sued for libel by the local GOP for comments the GOP chairmen claims are "fabricated," according to the Editor and Publisher.  Published on September 10, the article makes references to the GOP allegedly having plans to stop citizens from voting in Macomb County, Michigan.  

The article published last month in the Messenger entitled "Lose your house, lose your vote" quoted party chair James Carabelli saying he would "have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses."  The party demanded a retraction, but the Messenger refused, with CEO of the Center for Independent Media David Bennahum(which funds the paper) saying, "We stand by our story.  We stand by our reporter.  We knew that there was the possibility(of the Michigan GOP suing for defamation)."  

According to the Editor and Publisher, Michigan law allows citizens who have foreclosed on their homes two months prior to Election Day the ability to vote in their old precinct.  Sen. Barack Obama's campaign filed a class-action lawsuit a week after publication of this article against state Republicans for "voter caging," a technique the Editor and Publisher describes as an attempt to block voters in Michigan.